Parks superintendent to retire

Published 4:43 am, Thursday, March 12, 2015

After 25 years, City of Plainview Parks superintendent Rusty Reese will retire from his post after a fulfilling career.

After 25 years, City of Plainview Parks superintendent Rusty Reese will retire from his post after a fulfilling career.

Photo: Homer Marquez/Plainview Herald

Parks superintendent to retire

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For nearly 26 years, Rusty Reese has been sincerely devoted to magnifying Plainview's beauty through its parks. Through the sweat of his brow, the City of Plainview Parks Department superintendent has been dedicated to providing a well-maintained landscape for community togetherness while also spearheading recreational growth for all Plainview citizens.

"This is my hometown, I grew up here," Reese said as he described his passion and motivation for ensuring the community has the best when it comes to city parks.

"I want it to be a better place. I feel like parks are an integral part of your city workings; and the prettier and better maintained we can present the parks to the public, the more it will help our city. It will encourage other citizens to move into Plainview. And at the same time, the citizens we have here are better able to enjoy the parks if they're clean, well-maintained and green."

But after a quarter of a century of ensuring that Plainview's parks are thriving, Reese says it's time to move on to another chapter of his life as the superintendent announced his retirement from the parks department.

In honor of Reese's contribution to his community, the City of Plainview will hold a special retirement reception for the superintendent from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

"It's been wonderful," Reese said. "I'm grateful to the leadership of Plainview over the years, and for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this organization. They have provided me an opportunity to develop the wide range of education and skills that I've obtained. From tree care, construction, plumbing, electrical, supervising, and custodial work, there is just a wide, wide range of opportunities that I was able to expand my skills with.

"I've really loved it. I appreciate having worked with many of the professionals and city personnel throughout the years. I've really been fortunate to have a great group of departmental employees that have been really productive and dedicated to the city. They have contributed greatly to my success."

Growing up, Reese was raised with deep agriculture roots. His grandparents farmed land east of town.

"I grew up farming and hay baling," Reese said.

Reese graduated from Plainview High in 1977 and started working at Plainview Pig Producers shortly thereafter. After a few years with the company, Reese decided to venture off on his own, opting to become an independent farmer.

Reese worked the land as a farmer for the next 10 years until he landed a job with the Hill Land and Cattle Company in Hart. Reese stayed with the company for three years. However, the daily commute from Plainview to Hart grew tiresome, prompting Reese to change jobs.

"I saw it in the newspaper. I saw the opportunity so I applied," Reese said of seeing the want-ad for a position in the City's Parks Department.

"It was a position for a park maintenance worker. Do pretty much what they do now; mowing, maintaining the parks and playgrounds."

In 1989, Reese was hired by the City of Plainview.

Because of his tractor experience, Reese was quickly moved to the vector weed mowing department where he spent the next three years.

Reese said he switched from the Parks department to the vector department quite often, but added that he still moved up the ladder. He was eventually promoted to foreman and interim superintendent.

Reese said he loved his job. It reminded him of working on the farm. However, instead of raising crops, Reese was growing grass and trees for the citizens to enjoy.

After the departure of former superintendent Carl Holland, Reese became the permanent superintendent.

But the title was just that as Reese continued to work hands-on with department projects, often working side by side with his employees.

"I think it's crucial," Reese said. "You have to be involved, and you have to be a hands-on superintendent. You have to know the daily working of what your personnel is doing. I can honestly say that I can't think of a time that any of my personnel was ever called-in, turned-in or complained on. We always knew where they were every moment of the day. We made sure we were always being productive."

Along with department duties, Reese worked with the community during his tenure, including leading Plainview's Parks Advisory Board.

"I'm thankful for the many dedicated, civic-minded citizens that have served on the Parks Advisory Board and contributed their time in assisting and directing the growth of our parks. They are why the parks are what they are today," he said.

Through efforts in park improvement, Reese said he is most proud in leading projects that included updating the irrigation system throughout the parks from manual to automatic in 2000, the design and construction of the waterfall at Regional Runningwater Draw Park, the Lloyd Woods Patriots' walkway and walking trails at Woods, M.B. Hood and Givens parks. Reese also updated playgrounds with innovative play structures.

"In the past, we just had swing sets, a slide and maybe a merry-go-round," said Reese.

Reese said he also was grateful for opportunities to be involved in the construction of Katherine Wheeler memorial fountain, the Centennial Circle of Honor, the Lloyd Woods' flag memorial and the Manning Memorial at Regional Park. Reese also was involved in the Rotary Club's construction of the Frisbee golf park.

Though he said he will dearly miss his job at the City of Plainview, Reese said he will enjoy the next chapter of his life as he and his wife, Lynn, plan to move north to be closer to their grandchildren.

"I plan on moving closer to grandkids, but I'll still be coming back and forth because I have family here," Reese said.